Shot some geese during the week and was wondering if I could use the primary wing feathers to fletch some arrows. They don't seem as stiff as my turkey feathers. I'm not sure if they would be noisy being soft and all? Anybody ever tried them?   Thanks GLENN

I have heard they make great, water resistant fletching....as long as you dont wash or bleach them, the natural oils repel water. Im sure others with hands on experience will chime in shortly.

They're not as durable as wild turkey feathers, but they do repel water very nicely.  They make a good fletching, but black is a little difficult to see.  Used a goose feather fletched forgewood shaft to take a nice buck this past November.

They do work pretty well.  I can't vouch for how durable yet as I have only been shooting them for a couple weeks but look pretty good.  Will agree with Orion that they may be tougher to see in low light - but they do look good.  Made these up with wild turkey on two sides and goose on the other two sides (4 fletch).

Do they seem to make anymore noise than the turkey feathers?
GLENN

Nope.

C.Goose work great,not as stiff,but quite for sure.I have had close to 1000 split 7 ground over the years !!!

I agree with Tom they make great fletching. There is always at least one arrow in my hunting quiver with goose feathers on it.
Jack

Goose feathers are great for hunting in wet conditions or if you go to a shoot on a rainy weekend. Their softness actually makes them quiet. They are not as durable as turkey but I always have a couple of them in my hunting quiver. They are also hard to see in flight but if you are shooting carbon or aluminum a lumenock will change that.

I have the white tracer feathers that go behind the feathers. I bet they would look good behind the black feathers. Plus I always use a bright wrap on my arrows.
Thanks guys for the input!!
GLENN

I use goose feathers and like them especially during rainy weather. I use not only primaries but secondary and other smaller goose feathers for primitive fletchings.
  This is a primitive style with tangential 3 fletch. These goose feathers(about 4" to 5" long) are tied at the back end(nock) with the feather being inside out(quill on the outside)and tied at the front with some helical added. This style of fletching is surprisingly effective.     Pat

I love Goose feather fletching.  Is has a beautiful natural irreadescance and is quite water resistant.  I have learned to cut and sand them by hand to the point a can do one feather in less than 2 minutes.  I have sent some to Raven Archery and they do a good job grindng them.

As I understand the federal law, I cannot sell arrows made with wild goose feathers since the law states that no part of a federal waterfowl can be sold.  There are some domesticated Canada flocks that one can get legal feathers from, but I get good receipts when I use them.

Trad-Gangers are so darn resourcefull !  So many great ideas come from this sight!
GLENN